Beliefnet News

Clinton Details Religious Freedom, Nominee Faces Senators

By Adelle M. Banks
c. 2010 Religion News Service
WASHINGTON (RNS) Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday (Nov. 17) called for continued vigilance to protect religious minorities as her department released its annual report on international religious freedom.
On the same day, the Obama administration’s nominee to be the next roving ambassador for international religious freedom addressed similar issues at her confirmation hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The report on 198 countries highlighted challenges, including China’s efforts to forcibly remove Uighur Muslims and Tibetan Buddhists, and successes, such as Lebanon’s restoration of a Beirut synagogue that was destroyed in a civil war.
“With this report we do not intend to act as a judge of other countries or hold ourselves out as a perfect example, but the United States cares about religious freedom,” Clinton told reporters in releasing the report.
“We have worked hard to enforce religious freedom. We want to see religious freedom available universally.”
The report cited the department’s continued opposition to Muslim states’ annual United Nations resolutions aimed at countering “defamation of religions.” Clinton said it is important to condemn hateful speech, but not ban it.
“Societies in which freedom of religion and speech flourish are more resilient, more stable, more peaceful and more productive,” she said.
In recent days, the Organization of Islamic Conference has drafted an updated U.N. resolution with a new title that condemns the “vilification of religions,” but U.S. religious freedom advocates continue to oppose it.
Clinton did not announce a new list of the worst religious freedom abusers, which are designated as “countries of particular concern,” but reported on continued monitoring of the eight nations that currently have that designation: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Uzbekistan.
A revised list may be released in a couple of months, Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner said.
Leonard Leo, chairman of the independent U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said the department’s report mirrors many of his panel’s concerns, but urged greater action from the State Department.
“We urge the State Department to act decisively and designate `countries of particular concern’ — something the Obama administration has yet to do,” Leo said.
Just hours before Clinton released her report, senators questioned the Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, who was nominated in June by President Obama as ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.
Cook, who advised the Clinton administration on racial issues, retired last December as pastor of New York’s Bronx Christian Fellowship Church, which she founded in 1996. She was also the first woman elected to lead the prestigious Hampton University Ministers’ Conference of black clergy.
Despite her domestic accomplishments, religious freedom experts have questioned her lack of foreign policy experience, even as they are relieved the post is poised to be filled after a two-year vacancy.
During her brief hearing, Cook cited her travel to five continents, global meetings with a range of religious groups and her leading of interfaith delegations to Israel, Jordan and Egypt.
“I’m persuaded in my mind, heart and soul that religious freedom is the birthright of all people everywhere,” she said. “It is the foundation of civil society … and must always be a pillar of U.S. foreign policy.”
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., asked Johnson Cook about her knowledge of diplomatic troubles facing Orthodox Christians, particularly Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who’s based in Istanbul.
She responded that she had sat with Orthodox leaders at a White House prayer breakfast and had worked with them as a New York police chaplain. She noted plans to reopen a Greek Orthodox seminary in Muslim-majority Turkey.
“There is some progress but there are still some serious concerns and it would be high on my priority list,” she said.Copyright 2010 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.

It’s very good we are opposing the Protect Religions from Criticism proposals. It’s absolutely necessary to be able to question and criticize religions and philosophies, and those that can’t take questioning or criticism need to grow up.
As for naming especially bad countries, what’s the point? There are other rights, more important than religion (e.g. free speech!) we don’t do that for. This picking our religion among all rights as being worth especially protecting is foolish and wasteful.

cknuck

double talk; remind me why we pay Hilary

nnmns

Ms. Clinton is doing a job for her country. On the other hand we pay John Boner who’s becoming Majority leader because he and his fellow Republicans sabotaged the economy by dragging their heels on what we need the government to do.

welcome to :======http:// http://www.findsoso.com====
Open the wardrobe is not yet found love after another the
right clothes? So, also waiting for? Immediate action bar!
Welcome to sure you will find
what you need. Moreover, the company has a good reputation,
product quality standards, at reasonable prices. Over the
years, has been well received by overseas friends for their
support. Therefore, please rest assured purchase.
welcome to :======http:// http://www.findsoso.com ====

Previous Posts

Former Muslim Wants to See Changehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=348P3ooQUPk
Author and former Muslim Ayaan Hirsi Ali spoke at the National Press Club on April 7th and said there needs to be five amendments to Islam. She said “individuals” within Islam today ...

Hispanics turning evangelical, Jews secularWorship service attendance is up in New York City, but down among young adult Jews, according to recent studies. On the other hand, fewer Spanish-speaking teens are attending Catholic mass, but more are showing up at Evangelical ...